If you are getting the FAILED TO LOAD THIS BROADCAST error on Steam, this post is for you. Steam Broadcasting is a nice feature that lets you broadcast gameplays that your friends and others can watch. But, many Steam users have reported getting the FAILED TO LOAD THIS BROADCAST error message while trying to watch a broadcast stream. Many have reported encountering this error message when playing certain streams and some said that this error pops up on every broadcast stream.
While a laggy or unstable internet connection could facilitate error, other factors can be responsible for it. These may include your broadcasting settings, firewall or antivirus interruptions, outdated Steam app, and corrupted Steam client.
Fix FAILED TO LOAD THIS BROADCAST error on Steam
If you get the FAILED TO LOAD THIS BROADCAST error on Steam on Windows, here are the solutions to fix this error:
- Check your internet connection.
- Make sure Steam is up-to-date.
- Verify your broadcasting settings on Steam.
- Try watching the broadcast in a browser.
- Allow Steam through your firewall.
- Uninstall, then reinstall Steam.
1] Check your internet connection
If broadcasts fail to load on Steam and you keep getting this error, it could be your weak internet connection at fault. So, before applying advanced fixes, ensure your internet connection is working fine and isn’t slow or unstable. You can try connecting to a more reliable network connection or use a wired internet connection to fix the error. You can also try using some troubleshooting tips to get rid of any network connectivity issues.
2] Make sure Steam is up-to-date
Another thing you should do is update the Steam client to its latest version. To do that, open Steam and click on the Steam menu. After that, select the Check for Steam Client Updates option and let it download and install the available updates. Once done, check if the error is fixed.
See: Fix Steam Broadcasting not working.
3] Verify your broadcasting settings on Steam
If your broadcast setting on Steam is restricted, it will prevent others from watching the stream. Hence, you can change your broadcasting settings to fix the error. Here’s how to do that:
- First, open the Steam client and click on the Steam menu.
- Now, select the Settings option.
- After that, go to the Broadcast tab from the left-side pane.
- Next, set the Privacy setting option to Anyone can watch my games or Friends can watch my games.
- Once done, save the settings and see if the error is fixed.
Read: Fix Steam Client Bootstrapper high CPU usage on Windows.
4] Try watching the broadcast in a browser
Some users were able to fix this error by watching the broadcast in a web browser instead of the Steam desktop app. So, you can try doing the same and see if it helps. Here’s what to do:
- First, open the Steam website in a preferred web browser and sign into your account.
- Now, tap on your profile picture.
- Next, scroll down to the Friends section and click on it.
- After that, search for the friend whose broadcast you want to watch and navigate to his/her profile.
- Then, press the Watch Game button on their profile and you will be able to watch his/her game broadcast.
See: Fix Steam not signing in to Friends on Windows.
5] Allow Steam through your firewall
Your overprotective security suite can also prevent you from watching broadcast streams. As a result, you get errors like FAILED TO LOAD THIS BROADCAST. So, you can try disabling your antivirus or firewall temporarily and check if the error has stopped. If yes, you can allow Steam executables to exception/exclusion settings of your security program.
To allow Steam through Windows Defender Firewall, follow the below steps:
- First, use the Windows Search function to open Windows Defender Firewall.
- After that, tap on the Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall option from the left-side pane.
- Now, click the Change settings button from the top of the window.
- Next, scroll down to the Steam app under the Allowed apps and features list and checkmark the respective checkbox.
- In case the app is not on the list, press the Allow another app > Browse option and select the main Steam executable file. You will likely find it in the C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\ folder.
- Finally, enable the checkboxes associated with the Public and Private networks checkboxes and press the OK button.
Similarly, you can add Steam to the exception or exclusion list of your antivirus program.
See: How to fix Steam failed to send chat message?
6] Uninstall, then reinstall Steam
If the error keeps popping up, you can try reinstalling the Steam client to fix the error. It could be a corruption associated with the app causing the error. So, uninstall Steam and then reinstall it to check if the error is fixed.
Before you remove Steam from your PC, create a backup of your games’ folders from the below location to restore your games later:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common
Once done, open the Settings app using Win+I and go to the Apps > Installed apps section. Now, locate the Steam app, click on the three-dot menu button present next to it, select the Uninstall option, and follow the prompted instructions to complete the process. When the app is removed, delete all the leftover files and restart your computer.
Finally, download the latest Steam installer from its website and install it on your PC.
Hopefully, you won’t get the FAILED TO LOAD THIS BROADCAST error now.
Read: Steam Big Picture mode not working.
Why can’t I Broadcast on Steam?
If you are unable to broadcast your favorite games on Steam, make sure Broadcast is not disabled in your Settings. Also, your accounts need to fulfill certain requirements to be able to broadcast streams. These include an account having made a purchase on Steam, is not a limited account, and is not community-banned. Besides that, if your internet connection is weak, you will face broadcasting issues on Steam. Your overprotective firewall can also prevent you from broadcasting.
How do I get rid of Steam Broadcast?
You can disable broadcasting on Steam by tweaking your settings. To do that, open the Steam desktop client and click on the Steam menu from the top menu bar. Next, go to the Broadcast tab. After that, under the Privacy setting drop-down, choose the Broadcasting disabled option.
Now read: Fix Connecting Steam account stuck.
